PROCEEDINGS OV THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 4 29 



The female lays eggs very slowly. Sometimes she has been seen 

 to continue laying eggs for more than three days. In one case a female 

 began laying eggs at 11 a.m. on the 16th July 1907 and had not com- 

 pleted laying eggs till 12 noon on the 20th July 1907. From 11 a.m., 

 16th July, until 4 p.m., 19th July, she had finished only one side of the 

 circle. In another case a female was seen to have started laying eggs 

 at 5-37 p.m. and by 5-52 p.m. of the same day, 17th July, she had laid 

 only 4 eggs. 



The number of eggs in a cluster varies greatly. It may be from 100 

 to 150 or more. In a count of eggs in different clusters made on the 

 20th July 1907 it was found that the number was :— 



Eggmass — 



1st 109 



2nd 187 



3rd 154 



4th 129 



5th 13- 



138 



6th 

 7th 

 8th 



141 

 126 



Average 140 per cluster and this number corresponds to the number 

 of eggs found laid by two females under observation— one of them laid 

 138 and the other 141 (clusters 6th and 7th above). In cases where 

 two or more females have oviposited close to each other the eggmasses 

 appear like small black patches on the leaves. But this is rather the 

 exception than the rule. 



Each egg is elhptical in shape, 0-25 mm. long, 0-05 mm. broad. It is 

 attached to°the leaf with a pale brown peduncle. It is broad at base, 

 and tapers towards the apex with a shght swelhng in the middle. ^ When 

 fully matured it turns shiny black and remains either upright or incUnes 

 sHghtly towards one side. When the nymph is about to emerge a sht 

 opens longitudinally laterally and the head with the antenna is thrust 

 out. The sht then widens and a pale brown nymph comes out. It 

 then rests near the empty egg-shell or moves about slowly amidst empty 

 egg-shells. Having selected a suitable succulent spot, it settles down 

 and begins to feed. If touched or pricked shortly after emergence it 

 exudes a drop of clear liquid. The nymphs moult and their exuvia 

 remain attached to them until they are blown away. 



A hfe-cycle takes 20 to 22 days to complete. Thus :— - 



Eggs laid .... 18th June 1914. 



Adults emerged . . . 6th July 1914 . . 19 days. 



